Having between six to 20 cigarettes a day is a social habit, almost a quarter of smokers believe, according to a new survey.

Almost a quarter of smokers say they only have a social habit despite the fact many smoke six to 20 cigarettes a day, a poll suggests Credit: PA

A survey of 2,000 smokers found that 24% class themselves as social smokers but more than one in three of these buy up to a packet a day.

Catherine Cox, primary care manager at The Co-operative Pharmacy, which conducted the poll, said: "Many smokers are convincing themselves they are consuming less tobacco than they actually are by classing their habit as a 'social' one."

"People see it as more acceptable to be a social smoker than admitting they regularly light up each day, even though our research shows that this is the case," she added.